HSS CH15

Chapter 15: Never Been to College

During his nap, Lin Miao was still sulking. He shook Huo Yuchuan’s arm beside him, furrowing his brows and saying seriously, “Two ribs stabbing is about doing anything for a friend, being loyal, not actually stabbing yourself.”

Huo Yuchuan, facing him and sleeping on his side with his other arm as a pillow, seemed to have only heard the first part and asked meaningfully, “Anything?”

Lin Miao immediately became as wary as a squirrel with its tail on end. “No free labor.”

Huo Yuchuan: “……”

Huo Yuchuan asked again, “Anything else?”

Lin Miao thought for a moment, wary of falling into the capitalist’s trap and preemptively said, “If I think it’s not okay, I won’t do it.”

Huo Yuchuan: “Then your ‘two ribs stabbing’ is just a scam.”

Lin Miao retorted indignantly, “The idiom doesn’t say you can do anything either.”

“I don’t understand,” Huo Yuchuan said, “I never went to college. I’m uneducated.”

Lin Miao suddenly fell silent.

Huo Yuchuan didn’t speak either, glanced at him, and pulled the blanket over them. “Go to sleep.”

Lin Miao edged closer, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice, “Huo Yuchuan, why didn’t you go to college?”

They were clearly around the same age, yet Huo Yuchuan seemed to have integrated into society too early, always in a suit, with a bit less vitality in his cold demeanor, often making people forget that he was only twenty-two, the age when students would rush to the cafeteria after class to grab a meal.

“Where did you go after you transferred schools? Did you take the college entrance exam later?”

Huo Yuchuan paused for a moment, closed his eyes, and said, “Couldn’t get in.”

Couldn’t get in? Lin Miao looked puzzled. “But… your grades weren’t bad either.”

Huo Yuchuan: “A person who sleeps all the time, how good can their grades be?”

Lin Miao still found it a bit strange. In junior high, although Huo Yuchuan always slept in class and didn’t turn in homework, he could solve many problems. Lin Miao knew he actually had good grades.

But since he couldn’t get in, Lin Miao didn’t want to ask about his sore spot and comforted him, “If you want to go to class, you can come with me.”

Huo Yuchuan opened his eyes and asked, “What class in the afternoon?”

Lin Miao: “Economics.”

Huo Yuchuan: “Let’s go this afternoon.”

Just like that? Lin Miao asked him, “Don’t you have to work?”

Huo Yuchuan: “I’m off in the afternoon.”

Alright, Lin Miao thought, the boss is indeed capricious.

So, Huo Yuchuan changed into a light-colored hoodie and paired it with tracksuit pants. Walking with Lin Miao on the school’s tree-lined path, he seemed to blend in with the students coming and going.

He just stood out a bit, drawing glances from passing boys and girls.

Lin Miao also looked at him several times and said, “You seem to have suddenly become several years younger.”

Huo Yuchuan’s eyelid twitched. “Think I’m old?”

“No,” Lin Miao said, “but you usually look more…”

He thought for a moment and concluded, “Mature.”

Huo Yuchuan’s temple was now twitching as well.

He had been to Lin Miao’s school before, but he had never taken off his suit. Walking here, he looked like some leader coming for an inspection.

When they arrived at the classroom, the other roommates were already there.

“Brother Chuan,” Jiang Leming waved enthusiastically, “Come, sit here.”

Lin Miao didn’t know why Jiang Leming treated Huo Yuchuan like a long-lost brother. He remembered the first time Huo Yuchuan met them was when he accompanied him to pack up his things in the dormitory.

At that time, Jiang Leming had ingratiatingly asked Huo Yuchuan if he still needed part-time help, saying he could run and carry things, and he could do whatever Lin Miao could do.

Huo Yuchuan rejected him without hesitation.

Jiang Leming was persistent, occasionally asking Lin Miao to help inquire if there was any work they could do together and make money together.

Lin Miao: No, no, let’s not do this job together.

But after a while, Jiang Leming stopped asking and cheekily told Lin Miao that he had found another part-time job that paid more.

When Lin Miao asked what kind of job it was, he refused to say, completely forgetting about sharing the wealth.

“Are you Jiang Leming’s long-lost brother?” Lin Miao tilted his head and looked at Jiang Leming, who went to get water for Huo Yuchuan. “He seems to want to worship you.”

Huo Yuchuan flipped through Lin Miao’s textbook and lazily said, “Maybe, I’ll ask when I get home.”

Lin Miao: “……”

During the class, Lin Miao listened attentively, taking notes as he listened. Huo Yuchuan glanced at him, as if they were back in that cramped classroom, with bright sunlight outside the window and leaves rustling in the wind.

Lin Miao jotted down key points in his book, and when he turned his head, he saw Huo Yuchuan sleeping on the desk.

He couldn’t help but wonder if Huo Yuchuan had slept through the college entrance exam and failed to get in.

After class, Little Zheng came to pick them up. On the way back, Lin Miao suddenly saw a very exquisite cake shop, and the aroma seeped through the car window, making Lin Miao swallow his saliva.

Then, he heard Huo Yuchuan tell Little Zheng to stop the car.

Lin Miao turned around, “What’s up?”

Huo Yuchuan: “Suddenly feel like eating cake.”

Lin Miao was torn between craving and wanting to lose weight, but still got out of the car with Huo Yuchuan.

As soon as they entered, they saw a girl in a flowing dress carrying a cake, just finishing her payment and about to leave.

Her hair was dark and shiny, with large waves at the ends, elegant and beautiful.

When she saw Huo Yuchuan, they both seemed to freeze for a moment, then quickly smiled at each other. “What a coincidence, Mr. Huo.”

Huo Yuchuan nodded and introduced her to Lin Miao, “Miss Zhao.”

This is Miss Zhao, Lin Miao quickly introduced himself, “Hello, my name is Lin Miao.”

Miss Zhao’s smile deepened, “Nice to meet you, so cute.”

Lin Miao was taken aback, “Ah?”

Huo Yuchuan turned to Lin Miao and asked him to pick a cake.

“Then I’ll leave first,” Miss Zhao pushed the door open and left, “See you next time, Miao Miao.”

Lin Miao watched her disappear around the corner and sighed, “Miss Zhao is really beautiful.”

Huo Yuchuan: “So, do you like her?”

“No,” Lin Miao quickly denied, “I don’t.”

“But she seems to like you quite a bit,” Huo Yuchuan said indifferently, mimicking her, “Miao Miao?”

Lin Miao’s ears turned hot, and he whispered a bit disdainfully, “You sound like a cat meowing.”

Huo Yuchuan: “……”